The 50 Most Influential DJs

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6. Kool DJ Red Alert

A rap icon since the '80s, Red Alert's was hip hop's hottest tastemaker during his legendary tenure on New York's KISS-FM. On the airwaves and as head of Red Alert Productions — the once powerful management company that guided the careers of many golden-era rap greats—Uncle Red introduced the world to countless rap titans. In particular, he was a key backer of both Boogie Down Productions and the Native Tongues crew (A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Jungle Brothers, Black Sheep), both pioneers in their own right.